• Kenya loses $8 million per week in tea sales due to halted exports to the Middle East.

• Mombasa has stockpiled 8,000 tonnes of unsold tea since March 1.

• Kenya pursues African markets like Morocco to diversify export destinations.

Kenya’s tea industry, a key pillar of the national economy, suffers from stalled exports following the outbreak of war in Iran in late February.

The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) reported to Reuters on April 1 that 8,000 tonnes of tea have accumulated in Mombasa, where weekly auctions now face slower activity.

George Omuga, EATTA’s director general, said the conflict has disrupted purchases and shipment routes to the Middle East, resulting in weekly losses of $8 million since March 1.

“The Middle East accounts for 20–25% of Kenyan tea exports, absorbing roughly 100,000 tonnes annually,” Omuga noted, citing key destinations including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Additional Market Pressure

Kenya’s tea sector confronts this new disruption after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a sharp decline in exports to Russia. Omuga highlighted that Russia, which previously imported 29,000 tonnes of Kenyan tea, now purchases only 5,000 tonnes.

Despite this, trade flows to Kenya’s two largest buyers, Pakistan and Egypt—together representing nearly half of total exports—continue, albeit under rising freight costs. The situation underscores the urgent need to diversify markets.

Kenya is exploring opportunities in major African consumers, such as Morocco, where local demand for green tea is largely met by China. In November, the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) facilitated a meeting between Evergreen Tea Factory, a EATTA member, and Moroccan distributor TMAN Distribution Company to discuss expanding Kenyan tea presence in Morocco.

Both parties agreed to draft a memorandum of understanding to formalize closer trade cooperation and facilitate mutual market access.

This article was initially published in French by Espoir Olodo

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum